Customer service these days

quote:

Originally posted by Fieldthistle

Maybe I am on a string of good luck.

Fieldthistle, I strongly suspect the excellent treatment you are receiving is directly proportional to the way you treat folks. The world could use a whole lot more like you. You are a kind, caring ray of sunshine in an increasingly rude, hostile world. Thank you for that.

Regarding the "newspeak" of the current teens and twentysomethings, while I do find it annoying when someone tells me "no problem", there is another expression common to that generation that I will never be able to accept.

Instead of saying "really ?" or "you don't say", many of the younger set now say "Shut Up!" when faced with a statement that they find to be amazing. I don't know about anyone else, but I do not like being told to Shut Up by someone who is young enough to be my grandchild. Yes, I know that this is their equivalent to saying "really ?", but it just sounds very offensive to my ears.

quote:

Originally posted by Tedbear

Regarding the "newspeak" of the current teens and twentysomethings, while I do find it annoying when someone tells me "no problem", there is another expression common to that generation that I will never be able to accept.

Instead of saying "really ?" or "you don't say", many of the younger set now say "Shut Up!" when faced with a statement that they find to be amazing. I don't know about anyone else, but I do not like being told to Shut Up by someone who is young enough to be my grandchild. Yes, I know that this is their equivalent to saying "really ?", but it just sounds very offensive to my ears.

boy, can I relate! My 15 year old niece is famous for saying "shut up, aunt ellen" to me! and to her mom,too when dad is not around!

(it's horrible, but the last few months or so, she's gotten better)

How about when you go thru a drive thru and don't understand the workers thick accent?!?

that happened recently while I was on my way to work......I noticed a "drive thru" sign as I was passing Dunkin Donuts, and decided on a whim to get some kind of fancy coffee drink for a caffeine rush.... And I ordered a bagel and cream cheese.

I could not understand ONE word the guy was saying to me, and I did'nt know WHAT I was even agreeing to. I just felt glad to pay my 5 bucks or so, and get on my way....

incidently the bagel was nothing special, but the chive cream cheese really sucked.
iced fancy coffee was okay, thouh

quote:

Originally posted by ellen4641

quote:

Originally posted by Tedbear

Regarding the "newspeak" of the current teens and twentysomethings, while I do find it annoying when someone tells me "no problem", there is another expression common to that generation that I will never be able to accept.

Instead of saying "really ?" or "you don't say", many of the younger set now say "Shut Up!" when faced with a statement that they find to be amazing. I don't know about anyone else, but I do not like being told to Shut Up by someone who is young enough to be my grandchild. Yes, I know that this is their equivalent to saying "really ?", but it just sounds very offensive to my ears.

boy, can I relate! My 15 year old niece is famous for saying "shut up, aunt ellen" to me! and to her mom,too when dad is not around!

(it's horrible, but the last few months or so, she's gotten better)

Hearing it between a couple teen girls is kinda cute I think ... but has no place in the adult or business world.

"Shut up" like that reminds me of "get outa town" or "take off" ... neither of which, however, is quite as obnoxious as someone saying shut up.

I find it pretty funny myself, once I got over the shock of it, to not only be told to "Shut Up!" by my 30 year younger co-worker, but to also be addressed as "Dog."

quote:

Originally posted by Gizmolito

I find it pretty funny myself, once I got over the shock of it, to not only be told to "Shut Up!" by my 30 year younger co-worker, but to also be addressed as "Dog."

I guess it is the modern day version of our "get out of town!" and "take a hike!"

I'll have to blame it primarily on the parents, perhaps they are not as involved in their childs lives as they should be?!?

Perhaps the kids have too much time unattended, without the proper boundaries.

Then, that MAY BE because the parents are struggling working 2 or 3 jobs just to put food on the table!

It is a shame, though!!

I am 39 years old and have no problem with "no problem." I don't get how it is negative. It is simply an acknowledgement and is usually delivered with a smile. The person serving me is a person not a servant. I don't need that person to fawn over me. I simply want someone who is polite, who gets my order correctly, who offers suggestions when asked, and who doesn't spill. This service is fine for FF or casual dining.

Now upscale dining is a different story. When paying big bucks I expect the next level of service.

Working in the food industry is hard and often thankless work. Though I am no longer in it, I remember the days that I was. No matter how charming, polite, respectful, accurate, etc. you are, there is always some jerk there to pitch a fit just because he/she is in a miserable mood or is just a miserable person who thinks that for a $3 tip, he/she can treat you as a servant and verbally abuse you.

quote:

Originally posted by jodylync

I am 39 years old and have no problem with "no problem." I don't get how it is negative. It is simply an acknowledgement and is usually delivered with a smile. The person serving me is a person not a servant. I don't need that person to fawn over me. I simply want someone who is polite, who gets my order correctly, who offers suggestions when asked, and who doesn't spill. This service is fine for FF or casual dining.

Now upscale dining is a different story. When paying big bucks I expect the next level of service.

Working in the food industry is hard and often thankless work. Though I am no longer in it, I remember the days that I was. No matter how charming, polite, respectful, accurate, etc. you are, there is always some jerk there to pitch a fit just because he/she is in a miserable mood or is just a miserable person who thinks that for a $3 tip, he/she can treat you as a servant and verbally abuse you.

Hi jodylync. Welcome to the board!

I don't have any particular issue with "no problem" either.
If there is one thing in particular that really gets me in any service situation is when the server simply refuses to communicate ... coming to the table (or the drive thru) and silently standing there, looking like they have a mouth full of curdled milk and not saying a thing ... just glaring. This sort of rudeness includes not responding to things like my greeting, or a question, or not acknowledging a request, or disregarding my thanking them. I come across that sort of attitude a *lot* in certain areas ... basically the attitude of a person who hates their job (or worse!).

I think in many cases these are people who were *raised* without manners. I'm fortunate that my parents taught me to have decent etiquette. There are a lot of people who have never had it explained to them, nor shown around them. And that goes for patrons as well.

"Shut Up!" is only OK if it's coming from Little Richard.
The Bear

I have to sing the customer service praises of a rather ordinary chain, Baker's Square.. My daughter and I went in one day looking for a particular special on their menu... and found it was no longer on their menu.. but.. no problem we were told! It was the last day of the special, which is why it wasn't on the menu, but the chef would not only be happy to make it for us, but anytime we wanted it, or anything else, if they had the ingredients, they would make what we wanted! Our glasses were kept refilled, our table clean, they made sure we wanted for nothing.. and when we left.. it was "have a great day and a safe trip!".. it was a nice change from most places we've been to lately.

POLITE? Hell, I'd be happy with them getting my order right!

On the other hand there's a place in Gardiner that I spoke of in response to a post about unruly children that broke a jar in a restaurant. "How would you have handled it?"

Helen was/is legendary. "Home of the hateful hamburgers". She'd rip anyone a new "a" no matter who you were. For the first few decades she would run the stand with a lit cigarette hanging out of her mouth and her other free hand would be clutching a beer.

Dennis Quaid had the unfortunate experience to come to her stand doing the 'star' thing. She reached through the little order window, grabbed him by the shirt and proceeded to 'inform' him that she didn't give a "#%^*^@" who he was. He would stand in line, give his order and wait like anyone else.

I don't really have a "problem" with the "no problem" response. Believe it or not, some people actually have difficulty asking. I personally fell into that category when I was younger. I thought I was imposing, not realizing it was their JOB to go get more soda or re-do a torched steak. After being in the food industry I now realize that the guest is the be all and end all. You give them deep-fried filet mignon briquettes if that's what will make them happy.

Then there's ... well ... Helen.

April